Prevalence and risk factors of burnout among female oncology professionals from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Authors

null

Atlal Abusanad

Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Atlal Abusanad , Assia Bensalem , Emad Shash , Layth Y.I. Mula-Hussain , Zineb Benbrahim , Sami Ahmad Khatib , Nafisa Abdelhafeiz , Jawaher Ansari , Hoda Jradi , Khaled Alkattan , Abdul-Rahman Jazieh

Organizations

Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, CHU Constantine, Constantines, Algeria, Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, Radiation Oncology Department, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada, Chu Hassan II De Fes, Fes, Morocco, Private Sector, Amman, Jordan, Department of Oncology, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Department of Medical Oncology, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Cincinnati Cancer Advisors, Cincinnati, OH

Research Funding

No funding received
None

Background: Burnout (BO) is a recognized challenge among oncology workforce. It affects both genders with a higher frequency among women. This study examined the factors contributing to the development of burnout among women in oncology from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was distributed to oncology professionals from different countries in the MENA region. The validated Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) of emotional exhaustion (EE), Depersonalization (DE), and Personal Achievement (PA) plus questions about demography/work-related factors and attitudes toward oncology were included. Data were analyzed to measure BO prevalence and related factors. Results: Between February 10 and March 15, 2020, 545 responses were submitted by female professionals. The responses pre-dated the COVID-19 pandemic emergence in the region. BO prevalence was 71% among female professionals. Women aged < 44 years represented 85% of the cohort. Sixty-two percent were married, 52% with children and one-third practiced a hobby. Two-thirds worked in medical oncology, worked for < 10 years and 35% worked in academia. The majority (73%) spent > 25% on administrative work daily. Nearly half of the respondents (49%) expressed a recurring thought of quitting oncology and 70% had no burnout support or education. Inability to deliver optimal care was reported as distressing for career development in 82%. Factors significantly influencing the BO risk are listed in Table. Marital status, having children, academia and years in practice did not impact the risk of BO among female oncologists form MENA. Conclusions: High BO prevalence was reported among female oncology professionals from MENA. The majority of women oncology workforce were young and early- to mid-career in this cohort. Younger age, practicing in North African countries, high administrative load and the recurring thought of quitting were associated with increased risk of burnout. Whereas, practicing a hobby and enjoying oncology communication decreased the BO risk. Burnout support and education specifically for women in oncology is needed.

Multivariate logistic regression analysis for factors affecting the risk of developing burnout in female oncology professionals.

Factors
Ad-OR (CI 95%)
P Value
Age < 44 years
2.26 (1.22 - 4.19)
0.010
North Africa
2.43 (1.35 - 4.38)
0.003
Admin work > 50%
1.75 (1.07 - 2.86)
0.026
Always thinking about quitting
11.91 (3.37 - 42.05)
<0.001
Sometimes thinking about quitting
5.61 (3.28 - 9.62)
<0.001
Practicing hobby
0.60 (0.02 - 1.52)
0.042
Enjoying inter-personal and professional communication of oncology
0.42 (0.26 - 0.68)
<0.001

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2021 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Professional Development and Education Advances

Track

Medical Education and Professional Development

Sub Track

Clinician Burnout and Wellness

Citation

J Clin Oncol 39, 2021 (suppl 15; abstr 11016)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2021.39.15_suppl.11016

Abstract #

11016

Poster Bd #

Online Only

Abstract Disclosures

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